2009-11-11 - Rider Down/Fatality, Southampton Row/CSM

Dorothy was a good friend of mine. Hopefully we'll be able to get some advancement on how it happened.

The funeral has happened, but if anyone knew her and wants to attend the memorial let me know and I'll try to pass on info. Or if anyone hears about it before me please let me know.

RIP

Stay safe everyone.

terrible news.

those buses are awful.

L-bear, there are quite a few other relatives and friends of victims on here, too--let it be known if you need help. There's also the fledgling lorry safety action group:

http://www.seemesaveme.com/

Heartbreaking. Cannot be of any direct assistance, but thanks for the link, Oliver.
Protests, petitions and letters to MPs may help others avoid such a terrible fate.
Thoughts with family and friends.

Condolences to her family and friends, really sad news.

RIP Dorothy, my deepest condolences to her family and friends.

She is from my college and even though we are not on the same course I'm still shaken by what happened, since the accident took place just outside my school.

Wondering if ghost bikes are allowed to be put up in London? I've only seen 2 around town.

Little White Bike - PM me

Gruesome update info from bus driver's trial
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23936333-cyclist-killed-by-bus-was-dragged-under-wheels-like-cardboard-box.do

I understand given the time and season of the collision it's darker but are they really arguing that hitting some in front of you from a stationary position is not dangerous driving?

Poor lass, it look like she's doing just what TfL advise people to do - get in the front of the traffic light asap.

and it's a fucking bus, they have a much better view of the road, how is it's hard to not spot a cyclists on that section of the road that's always populated with cyclists?

How can someone like this bus driver didn't clock that it's a popular cycling route to East London? especially when he see them everyday?

Shocking, as Ed says how the hell can a bus driver not see a cyclist directly in front of them?

the front of a bus is like a greenhouse

Speed does not appear to have played a part. It may be suggested that Miss Elder should have worn more visible clothing and should not have ridden in front of Miss Burte in the first place.

That just makes me so angry. Nobody expects pedestrians to wear fluoro jackets.
This case must be a real nightmare to the family - especially if the driver wriggles out.

it's very fustrating how one uneducated statements have a powerful effect on people going to buy more visible clothing than years of campaigning for better road manner.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23937105-london-bus-driver-in-cycle-death-cleared-of-careless-driving.do

^Not good news. 3 seconds is quite a long time to see someone who is in front of you.

Shocking outcome. So very wrong.

This nonsense:
"But road crash expert Barry Wheeler said Burte's view of the cyclist may have been obscured by a combination of her cab fittings and windscreen wipers."
Shows how experts are used to confuse a jury and distract them from considering that the driver always has a duty to allow for any possible obstructions to vision. If there really was a problem with the wipers and other equipment then the bus operator and manufacturer should also be in court.

And less than 40 minutes to decide? :(

i suspect the jury was composed of people who drive but don't cycle.

Terrible. This entire case has been devastating from beginning to end.
Sincerest best wishes to the Elders.

Driver gives her version:

Today Miss Burte claimed she was mistreated by bus company Metroline, which runs more than 1,000 buses in the capital, following the accident. Metroline denies the allegations.
She said: "I remember everything about the accident. I heard a bang and a scraping noise. I heard a tiny little female scream. I got out and saw her under the bus. I felt helpless."
She claimed Metroline offered her no counselling or legal advice. "I went back to the garage and wrote a statement, then they suspended me. Eleven days later they came to my house to tell me she had died. I broke down.
"I always knew in my heart that it wasn't my fault but I felt so guilty. I think about it every single day.
"I went into the office and they told me they had seen the CCTV and that I was at fault. I was treated like a murderer. They told me I was sacked and to give back my uniform."
Miss Burte, from Wembley, said the company gave her no assistance. "Metroline didn't offer me counselling,' she claimed. "They didn't even give me a leaflet telling me where I might be able to get help."
She added: "I visited a doctor and told him I wanted to get in my car and drive off a bridge. The only thing that kept me going was my five-year-old son."
A spokesman for Metroline said: "Ms Burte was offered counselling through the company's employee assistance programme, and access to legal information is also always available from the employee assistance programme.
"It is company policy in such matters that a thorough investigation is conducted. We can confirm this was the case with Ms Burte. We can also confirm a disciplinary process was initiated and a hearing was conducted."

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23938122-i-heard-a-bang-a-scraping-noise-and-a-tiny-little-female-scream-bus-driver-cleared-over-cyclists-death-says-crash-will-always-live-with-her.do

I know the CCTV is trained on the standing area near the driver, but footage doesn't seem to have been played in court, which seems strange as it appears to show the driver was at blame.

Very odd as it would save the court a lots of time trying to speculated what exactly have happened when they have the video in plain view.

the oil and motor industry are making all of us victims.

as usual i will be writing to my mp.